Communication and Media Studies(CMS) in principal deals with the study of mass media and communications. This study program
is conducted in many of the universities since last more than two decades in the United States and also in many other countries worldwide.While most of the information about people and events comes from mass media primarily, there is a pressing need for all of us as responsible citizens of a country to try to develop our media literacy with an understanding of the historical, politial, social, economic and cultural significance of film, print, digital and electronic media. Hence it may not be surprising that this CMS program is very much popular amongst present day
students through out the world.The CMS program enables the course pursuing students to develop the critical scholarship, ethical contexts, and technical understanding. They need to become responsible users and producers of media. The program offers an interdisciplinary
approach that focuses on the role of media in their countries and internationally, stressing a liberal asrs analysis of the impact of mass communciation on individuals, institutions and cultures.This CMS program is conducted in most of the universities in the United States through traditional learning and teaching methods, in which the students are involved in practicals, workshops and also online learning. The CMS students performance are assessed through various forms viz. essay, exam, media practice, seminar contributions, group project and presentations, online contributions, web designs and critical film reviews etc.These students who pursue the CMS degree program stand high with excellent career opportunities.But in these days of fast day-to-day technological changes, media practitioners and researchers holding the CMS qualifications need to be flexible in their approach and career objectives. They also need to have got equipped well with excellent communication skills and in order to make them elgible for a wide range of careers. In addition to these tehy should be able to argue, persuade, collaborate, speak and write suiting to different audiences. They should be familiar with practising time management, developing confidence in public speaking, updating their knowledge in information technology(including web designing which is a more sought skill nowadays) from time to time.With due thanks to : www.swansea.ac.uk/media studies and www.excollege.tuffs.edu/cms11/11/2006